Pine Bluff, AR — The approach of the holiday season means Arkansans will soon be gathering to eat festive foods and watch football with their families and friends, Rachel L. Luckett, family and consumer sciences coordinator for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said.
“During the celebrations, it is helpful to remember that healthy eating is important even during celebrations and gatherings,” she said.
Luckett said the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service advises people to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and dairy or fortified soy alternatives.
“When deciding what to eat or drink at a holiday gathering, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat and sodium,” she said.
The Food and Nutrition Service offers the following tips for celebrations and gatherings:
- Serve up variety. At your next event, create a colorful buffet table that includes foods from all the food groups.
- Cheers to good health. Serve water or unsweetened iced tea with fresh mint leaves. Offer seltzer water with a splash of 100 percent fruit juice or a wedge of lemon or lime.
- Make activity part of the fun. Laugh, mingle, dance and play games. Have fun walking and talking with family and friends after a special meal.
- Rethink dessert. Offer a combination of fresh and fried fruit. Put out fixings for guests to make their own trail mix with a combination of peanuts, dark chocolate chips and dried fruits.
- Reduce food waste. Manage leftovers by packing them for guests to take home, adding them to soups or salads, and including extra veggies in omelets, sandwiches or stews.
- Try a twist on your favorite dish. Substitute unsweetened applesauce for butter when baking, or use low-fat milk when a recipe calls for cream. Experiment with low-salt herbs and spices.
“By planning celebrations that include nutritious foods and even a little exercise, we can help protect our health as well as the health and wellbeing of our loved ones,” Luckett said.
